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Inspector won't comment on courthouse fire

As the investigation continued Wednesday into a suspicious fire that damaged police offices at Sault Ste. Marie's courthouse, the justice system managed to carry on its business at different locations in the city.

The historic Queen Street East building has been shut down since the fire occurred in the early morning hours Tuesday.

James Allen, an investigator with the Ontario Fire Marshal's office and city police investigators were on the scene for a second day, Wednesday, trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

Allen wouldn't comment on the probe, indicating that he had been asked by police not to speak to the media.

On Wednesday morning, city police Insp. Steve Davey said the offices have fire and smoke damage, but he was not yet aware of the full extent of that damage.

The offices, located in the basement of the 89-year-old courthouse, are shared by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.

The police service had equipment and files, some paper based and some saved on computer, in the office, said Davey, who oversees city police court operations.

For the second day, some court appearances took place in a small, crowded office in the basement of an adjacent building that houses the offices of the Crown attorney.

Ontario Court Justice Kristine Bignell delivered two sentencing decisions in the makeshift courtroom and also dealt with matters scheduled for domestic violence court.

Prisoners, transported from the jail for court, were kept in a police van, parked near the office door, until they were brought into court.

"Considering the limited space things went well,'' Crown attorney Bill Johnson said. "It was a good co-operative effort to make sure the courts work.''

A Superior Court trial that began Monday at the courthouse resumed Wednesday in a boardroom at the Roberta Bondar building.

Bail hearings were held in the provincial offences courtroom at the Civic Centre and will be there for the rest of the week.

On Thursday, criminal trials scheduled in the Ontario Court of Justice, will take place at the Queen's Centre building.

A determination about what is to happen next week will be made Friday.